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ASLLP Solution Mining Cavity Gharacterization Plan <br />During the past few years, American Soda LLP, (ASLLP) has been evaluating <br />options to fulfill the permit requirement of characterizing the size and shape of an <br />ASLLP nahcolite solution mining cavity. Through meetings with the BLM, EPA, <br />and DMG, the combination of using cross-hole seismic and cavity displacement <br />emerged as the most promising methods. <br />ASLLP submitted a proposal to the EPA, CDMG, and BLM on June 20, <br />2003. The proposal included across-hole seismic method and a full <br />displacement of the cavity fluid utilizing methane gas. The proposal included the <br />drilling of an additional production well adjacent to the cavity being characterized <br />and testing the storage of methane gas in the solution mined cavity. The <br />proposed plan depended upon synergies with the full capacity 2004 ASLLP <br />production and operations plan. <br />On September 10, 2003, Solvay America acquired ASLLP from the <br />Williams Companies and American Alkali. Solvay immediately asked ASLLP to <br />evaluate lower production plans for 2004. At present, the 2004 production and <br />operation plan is 60% less than the previous 2004 plan. The lower production <br />plan does not require additional production well drilling. <br />In October, 2003, Solvay, inquired as to the possibility of revising the <br />proposed cavity characterization to eliminate the gas displacement phase and <br />reduce the plan's dependence for an additional production well to be drilled. <br />On December 16, 2003, ASLLP meet with representatives of the EPA, <br />CDMG, and BLM to discuss possible revisions to the plan. ASLLP proposed a <br />downhole seismic method to characterize the solution mining cavity. Discussions <br />during the meeting illustrated the value of a partial displacement to provide a <br />cross check of the seismic method. The revised cavity characterization plan is <br />comprised of two phases as follows: <br />Downhole seismic profiling -Ten high temperature hydrophones will <br />be lowered into the short string of 4'/i' tubing. Wireline explosive <br />charges will be lowered down the long string of 4 %z" tubing. Upon <br />detonating the charges, the hydrophones will measure the velocity of <br />the seismic reflection of the seismic signal of the charges which wil! be <br />used to calculate a mathematical model of the cavity. The model will <br />provide a distribution of cavity diameters, but will not be oriented to a <br />reference direction. The model should be effective in modeling the top <br />one half to two thirds of the cavity. <br />2. Fluid Displacement -The fluid in the top ten to twenty feet within the <br />cavity will be displaced with nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or methane gas <br />